PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Friday Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitri Povetkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Strong
vs
Povetkin

198 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
25
201 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Friday Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitri Povetkin!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strong closes the distance and clinches up with Povetkin, looking for a takedown. Strong pushes Povetkin against the cage but Povetkin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Strong looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Horrible takedown attempt by Strong or perhaps it was just good defense by Povetkin, which made it look bad.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Povetkin is stalling here.
Strong tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Povetkin just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Friday Strong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Povetkin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Strong pulls his leg out and moves away.

Povetkin gets a double leg takedown into Strong's guard.
Povetkin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Strong can't keep his opponent in guard - Povetkin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Strong tries to roll over but Povetkin keeps him under control.
Strong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Povetkin on the ground.
Povetkin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Povetkin seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Povetkin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Povetkin works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Strong wants to control but Povetkin postures up.

Povetkin has an Americana. Strong didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Povetkin is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Povetkin hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Dmitri Povetkin!